Story of 35-year-old man who builds helicopters, guns from rubber

At 35, Yunusa Alfazazi, a resident of Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has carved a niche for himself in the world of unconventional manufacturing, creating helicopters, airplanes and different types of guns from rubber and plastic materials. Nigeria has seen remarkable self-taught inventors in the past, such as Malam Yahaya Makera, […]

At 35, Yunusa Alfazazi, a resident of Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has carved a niche for himself in the world of unconventional manufacturing, creating helicopters, airplanes and different types of guns from rubber and plastic materials.

Nigeria has seen remarkable self-taught inventors in the past, such as Malam Yahaya Makera, who built a functional radio station in Kaduna and Mansur Nuhu Bamalli made strides in mechanical engineering despite limited resources.

Yunusa Alfazazi represents a new generation of such minds who are capable of pushing Nigeria towards technological advancement if given the necessary backing.

Despite his extraordinary talent, Alfazazi is neither a graduate of engineering nor a product of any technical institution. He is a self-taught inventor, who, over the years, has honed his skills through sheer determination, curiosity and unwavering passion for innovation. But he remains largely unrecognised, unemployed and survives by pushing a wheelbarrow.

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From passion to recognition

Alfazazi’s creations are not just amateur imitations but detailed, functional models that have drawn the attention of notable personalities, including the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa and a former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.

During one of El-Rufai’s visits to Kafanchan, he came across Alfazazi’s work and was astonished by what he saw.

“El-Rufai asked if I was the one who manufactured the helicopter. I answered positively and he gave me a complimentary card to call him so that we could schedule a meeting. But honestly, I didn’t call him. That was when he was the governor of the state,” Alfazazi recalled.

His encounter with General Musa was equally remarkable. The top military officer, impressed by Alfazazi’s ingenuity, purchased one of his rubber guns.

“He commended my talent, gave me a token and collected the gun,” Alfazazi said as his face lit up with pride.

 

A mind unbound by limitations

Born and raised in Kafanchan, Yunusa Alfazazi grew up with a keen interest in how things worked. As a child, he would dismantle old radios and attempt to reconstruct them, often earning scolding from family members who thought he was simply destroying things. But deep down, he was learning – piece by piece, wire by wire.

Without access to formal training, he relied on his instincts and observations. He explained, “I started many years ago, just making small models of vehicles and guns using plastics and rubber. Over time, I improved and started making helicopters and airplanes.”

His ability to transform ordinary materials into complex objects is astonishing. Using discarded rubber, Dunlops and plastics, he has managed to create working models of helicopters and guns that closely resemble the real thing.

What is more fascinating is that he does not use sophisticated machinery. With simple tools and a deep understanding of structure, weight distribution and aerodynamics, he creates intricate designs that mirror real-life aircraft and weapons. His helicopters, though miniature, have parts that simulate actual rotor blade movements. His guns, made entirely from rubber and plastic, are designed with astonishing details, making them look like professional prototypes.

 

Lone battle for recognition

Despite his impressive skills, Alfazazi has struggled to gain meaningful support. Unlike many young Nigerians who have been lucky to find mentors or institutional backing, his journey has been solitary. While he has met high-ranking officials, none has followed up to harness his potential for national development.

His biggest desire is to be employed by a state or federal agency that specialises in manufacturing so that he can contribute his talent to the country.

He said, “I believe I can do more than what I am doing now if given the opportunity. I want to be part of something bigger – to help build real military equipment or other machines that will benefit Nigeria.”

Without any structured support, he relies on meager earnings from those interested in his work. At times, he pushes a wheelbarrow to sustain himself.

“I am single and jobless. I get some token from people who appreciate my work. Sometimes I have to push a wheelbarrow; that is what keeps me going,” he admitted.

 

Caution from the authorities

While Alfazazi has enjoyed moments of recognition, he has also recieved cautions from security personnel.

“One security officer once cautioned, telling me not to expose myself too much or share my ideas with the wrong people. He said I should be careful about selling my designs to anyone,” he revealed.

This warning, though well-intended, added another layer of uncertainty to his journey. It made him more cautious about whom he shares his innovations with, further limiting his opportunities for collaboration.

While he understands the security implications of his work, he also believes his talent should not go to waste. “If I had the opportunity to work with government agencies or private manufacturers, I would be able to channel my creativity into something productive and beneficial to the country,” he said.

 

A talent wasting away

Nigeria, like many developing countries, struggles with brain drain, where talented individuals either leave the country or their potentials remain untapped due to lack of opportunities. Alfazazi’s case is a prime example of a wasting opportunity in a country yearning for technological advancement.

At a time when Nigeria is exploring local manufacturing of military and security equipment, one would expect a talent like that of Alfazazi to be nurtured and integrated into relevant institutions. Instead, he continues to struggle, watching his skills go underutilised.

The government and private institutions have been called upon to begin to pay attention to individuals like him, whose raw talents can be refined into national assets. A structured mentorship programme could help him transition from an informal inventor to a certified engineer. Some sugest a  sponsorship or scholarship could provide him with the necessary education to elevate his skills. Even private investors in the manufacturing industry could take an interest in his work and provide him with a platform to create on a larger scale.

Beyond financial support, what Alfazazi needs is exposure to experts in the field, who can guide him on the technical and ethical implications of his work. By linking him with engineering professionals, he could receive valuable insights that would enable him to refine his designs and make them commercially viable.

“If harnessed properly, Alfazazi could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, perhaps even pioneering a new era of local innovation in aeronautics and defence technology,” said Auwal Ibrahim Shehu, the director, Haske Peace Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation based in Kaduna. 

Despite the challenges before Alfazazi, he, however, expressed belief in his talent, saying, “I know I have something valuable. I just need the right opportunity to show the world what I can do.”

Whether his story becomes one of success or lost potential depends on how the authorities and well-meaning individuals, groups or organisations in Nigeria choose to respond.